December 2015
ORDER YOUR PLANTS NOW-
2016 Caldwell County Extension Edible Plant Sale
Orders Due Friday, February 26, 2016

We are now taking orders for our edible plant sale. This year we will be offering proven varieties of blueberries and strawberries. 

Strawberries will be delivered bare root (without soil) and blueberries will be in gallon containers. 

Orders are due with payment to Caldwell County Extension by Friday, February 26. Please make arrangements to pick up your plants at the Caldwell County Cooperative Extension Center located at 120 Hospital Ave, NE, Lenoir on Friday, March 11 between 8am and 5pm. 

For more information on the edible plant sale program, please contact Tina Lovejoy by calling the Caldwell County Extension Center at 828.757.1290 or writing to [email protected]. For varieties, pricing, and order form please click here. 

For information on blueberries in the home garden click here.

For information on strawberries in the home garden click here.


Horticulture Scholarships Offered
Caldwell Nurseryman Association

The Caldwell County Nurserymen Association is offering 
scholarships to college students. 

Three $500 scholarships will be awarded to students enrolled in a horticulture program at a North Carolina college during the 2016-2017 term.

The scholarship is open to any student residing in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, or Wilkes counties. The purpose of the scholarship is to reward ornamental horticulture students who exemplify scholastic aptitude, positive attitude, and industry potential. Work experience within the industry, leadership ability, and financial need will also be considered.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 31. To download a copy of the applicationclick here. Paper copies of the application can be picked up at the Caldwell County Extension office. 

For more information, call Amanda Taylor at 828.757.1290 or e-mail [email protected].

Closed for New Year Holiday
Friday, January 1, 2016

The Caldwell Extension Center will be closed, Friday, January 1, 2016. We will reopen Monday, January 4, at 8:00am.

4-H Youth Leadership 101
Saturday, January 2, 2016 9:00am-2:00pm

Where: Caldwell County Public Library Meeting Room #5

This is an invitation event for youth 13 and over. Please contact Darlene Berry, 828.757.1257 or [email protected].

Cost: Free
Statesville Area Beef Meeting
Tuesday, January 5, 2016, 3:30pm-6:30pm

Where: Iredell Extension Center, 444 Bristol Dr., Statesville, NC 28677

Call 828.757.1290 to register.

Cost: Free
Waynesville Bull Sale
Saturday, January 9, 2016, 11:00am

Where: Canton at the WNC Regional Livestock Center

The sale date is Saturday, January 9, 2016, 11:00 am. They will be selling 45 bulls (37 Angus, 2 Charolais, 6 Simmental and Simmental x Angus). The sale will be in Canton at the WNC Regional Livestock Center.

Please call Seth Nagy at 757.1290 or email him at [email protected] if you have any questions.

For a link to the sale catalog click here.

Cost: Free


Grow your Grain Expertise: 2016 N.C. Commodities Conference
Wednesday-Friday, January 13-15, 2016

Where: Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham/ Research Triangle Park

For more information or to register click here.

Cost: Registration is free. Banquet & Entertainment tickets are $20 per person.

Pesticide Safety (V) Training
Tuesday
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2016, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Where:Caldwell Extension Center, 120 Hospital Ave NW, Lenoir, NC 28645, United States

Private pesticide applicators in North Carolina will receive two recertification credits in category V for attending this training. Two V credits are required every three years to maintain a private pesticide applicator license. This class does not count towards a commercial pesticide applicator license.

To receive credit, bring a current pesticide license. For more information, contact Amanda Taylor at 828-757-1290 or [email protected].

To see all NCDA approved pesticide classes click here.

Cost: Free

Mark your calendars . . . February
events & meetings.
Winter Crops Meeting
February 2, 2016 11:00am-2:00pm

This meeting will cover topics to assist corn, soybean, and small grain growers in the 2016 season. 

This meeting is supported by the NC Soybean Growers Association. 

There will be one hour of pesticide for NC applicators. Please contact [email protected] with questions.

Southern Farm Show
Wednesday-Friday, February 3-5, 2016

Where: NC Fairgrounds, Raleigh 

For more info click here.

Cost: Free

Pesticide School and Exam
Tuesday & Wednesday, February 9-10, 2016

Where: Caldwell Extension Center

Click here for more information and to register.

Cost: Registration cost varies

NC Cattlemen's Annual Meeting
Thursday- Saturday, February 25-27, 2016

Where: Hickory Metro Convention Center

Click here to register or for more information.

Cost: Registration fees vary

January Gardening Tips

Fertilizing
  • Use wood ashes on your vegetable garden, bulb beds and non-acid loving plants if the pH of the soil is below 6.0.
Planting
  • Plant asparagus crowns this month if soil is dry enough to work.
Pruning
  • Typically January  is the month to start pruning grape vines. However, with the warm weather the vines are not dormant. Wait until the end of the month to prune. We will have cold weather and the vines will be dormant then.
  • Prune broken and undesired limbs on your shade trees.
  • Remove "weed" or undesirable trees from your landscape.
Spraying
  • Use glyphosate to kill winter annual weeds in mulched flower beds.
Lawn Care
  • Keep tree leaves from collecting on your lawn.
  • Mow if fescue gets 4.5-5 inches tall.
Propagation
  • Hardwood cuttings of many landscape plants like forsythia (yellow bells), flowering quince, weigela, crape myrtle, juniper, spirea and hydrangea can be taken this month.
Specific Chores
  • Order your small fruit plants from the edible plant sale here.
  • Study your home landscape to see what additions or improvements can be made this spring.
  • Prepare a spot in the vegetable garden for early spring vegetables like English peas, cabbage, carrots, onions, Irish potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach and turnips.
  • Study your seed catalogs and check for the All-American Selections of flowers and vegetables.
  • Order fruit trees, if not done last fall.

Contact:
Tina Lovejoy, Administrative Assistant
120 Hospital Ave NE, Lenoir, NC 28645
828-757-1290